No One Knows Best

On our farm, in our garden design work, we work as a team with a common goal. Everyone chips in for digging, washing, boxing, welcoming guests, and cleaning tools. But everyone gets to explore passions and develop skills.  Sam Engler’s writing talent has awed me since he started here – at 16 years old. Home…

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We Built a Barn with Daddy’s Wood

Daddy left barns full of wood. Last night, I slept on the screen porch, totally surround by him. The barns are a source of frustration for me. Messy, sliding, tumbling, old boards might have been stacked one day. Now they’re an inefficiently, stored reminder that he’s not here for them and that I can’t do…

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Thanks for Planting Pecan Trees

On this chilly, foggy Sunday morning, I’m making rounds, checking out what the fellows got planted, how many pounds of nuts got cleaned and making a mental list for Monday morning.  Those working guys leave clothes everywhere this time of year; a hoodie over the fence and a flannel shirt pegged to a tree trunk.…

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I See Dead People — Cemetery Gardening

The first place I ever collected plants was in the dump of the local cemetery. Momma and Nanna cleaned up the graves of grandparents and I pulled stuff out the trash. Mums, Azaleas, Ivy. Who’d throw all these great plants away? I never stopped. Whenever Tom and I travel, we check out the local cemetery.…

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